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The Green March of 1975 displaced many Sahrawis from Western Sahara into Algerian refugee camps that are now considered some of the oldest and largest refugee camps in the world (Courtesy of Wikimedia)

In 1975, Spain then signed an agreement known as the Madrid Agreement with Mauritania and Morocco, who claimed the territory. The agreement led to the Green March that left Mauritania occupying Western Sahara from the south and Morocco from the north. Not only did the event result in the killing and raping of thousands of Saharawis, but also displaced about 250,000 people who were forced to flee to Algeria and build one of the biggest refugee camps in the world, where they are still waiting to go back to their homes one day. The other half of the Saharawi population remains under the Morocco occupation of Western Sahara.

Despite the ceasefire in 1991 and Mauritania signing a peace treaty with the Polisario, the promise of a referendum to be held where the Saharawi will have a chance to choose self-determination or integration with Morocco was never fulfilled and Morocco still occupies Western Sahara.

Despite the Saharawi criticism, when it comes to the Polisario policies, the Polisario was and still are the legitimate movement that represents Saharawi self-determination. Contrary to Eddarhem’s statement, the Polisario is not fueled by the communists, but is supported by countries such as Algeria, South Africa, Mexico and 84 more who recognize the movement’s legitimacy and Western Sahara as a free country. Western Sahara holds various embassies in countries that recognize the Saharawi cause. If the Polisario isn’t doing its job, it will be held accountable by the Saharawi because they are free to do so.

In the past years, the Polisario and Morocco have engaged in various negotiations led by different UN envoys; however, all of them failed due to the simple reason that Morocco has its own agenda, which violates the agreement of the referendum and the Polisario have their own belief that the referendum should be upheld. Both parties have failed to find a solution to the long dispute. Who is paying the price? The Saharawi who are waiting for a solution.

Despite the uncertain future of the Saharawi and Western Sahara, the Saharawi are equipping themselves with education. The Saharawi hold the great hope that one day Western Sahara will gain its independence. But in the meantime what so many call a myth is actually a reality, and unless a solution is found Western Sahara will remain Africa’s last colony.